Tearful schoolchildren salute Kim Jong-un in North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a massive ceremony of a children union
at a stadium with some 20,000 children in Pyongyang.

3:59PM BST 06 Jun 2012

Thousands of children arrived in Pyongyang by air, train and bus from across the country for the ceremony, which will run until Friday.

The country's state-run television broadcast the pre-taped ceremony on Wednesday to mark the 66th anniversary of the Korean Children's Union (KCU).

Emotions appeared high when Kim walked into the stadium as children wearing red scarves wept and covered their faces.

"Beloved comrades of Children Union, you are the successors of military-first revolution and protagonists of the future," Kim told the assembled youngsters.

"Group activity of the Children's Union is people's first political career," he added.

South Korea's Yonhap news said it is the largest-ever celebration of the KCU and comes as Kim is widely believed to be cementing his grip on power following his father and former leader Kim Jong-il, who died last December.

"There shall be a bright future for the new generation of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il's country," Kim said at the end of his speech to a standing ovation.